From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

As always, Focus Features remained calm and rational.

Regardless of how turbulent Hollywood became, and no matter how the media stirred things up, Focus Features always maintained a clear head, not letting this heat wave cloud their judgment:

The screening venues for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" were a mere three hundred, less than a tenth of those for "Dawn of the Dead."

Of course, this didn't mean that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" couldn't achieve good results, but if Focus Features misplaced their focus, expending effort to create more waves or even attempting to overturn "Dawn of the Dead," wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?

Moreover, the cost of achieving this goal might far exceed expectations.

Therefore, the focus wasn't on how "Dawn of the Dead" was doing, but on how "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" was doing. Focus Features consistently kept the focus on themselves, adhering to their plan and proceeding step by step.

She deeply felt that she couldn't keep up with the thinking patterns of the younger generation. Coming to the Angelika Film Center to check in was already outrageous enough, but even more outrageous and absurd things were yet to come.

After inquiring, Ripley finally understood the situation:

They were here for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

This wasn't unexpected. After the clamor of last night's screening and the lively all-night revelry, Ripley also expected that the film's official release today should create some waves.

So, Ripley kindly advised the audience:

The Angelika Film Center has limited seating and cannot accommodate so many viewers.

Moreover, not all of the Angelika Film Center's theaters are showing "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" today. They still have their own screening schedule.

After the last screening of "Elephant," which was packed every showing, Ripley also learned a lesson; but considering that this time "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" had quite a few screening venues, and New York was the top priority, according to Ripley's understanding, Focus Features had arranged at least forty theaters in New York, ranking first in both the number of theaters and the number of screens.

Precisely because of this, the Angelika Film Center didn't arrange too many venues. While avoiding disrupting their own screening schedule as much as possible, Ripley unusually arranged three venues for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

As a result—

This scene appeared.

Ripley seemed particularly sincere, giving the audience advice: go to other theaters, don't worry about not having seats, and you might not even need to queue.

It wasn't that Ripley was selfless and didn't want to generate revenue for the Angelika Film Center; it was that Ripley didn't want to be as profit-driven as those large chain theaters.

Profit is important, very, very important. Without profit, there would be no Angelika Film Center, and the dreams that Ripley and her colleagues insisted on would lose their platform to showcase.

However, Ripley wouldn't put the cart before the horse—

Their ultimate goal in pursuing profit was to give those art films, independent films, and films not favored by the market the opportunity to be released.

If now, they were like the chain theaters, with everything aimed at profit, at the expense of harming the opportunity to screen art films and independent films, at the expense of squeezing out those films rejected by the market, then what would be the meaning of their persistence and struggle?

Profit must be considered, but it is not the only criterion for the Angelika Film Center to arrange its screening schedule.

Last time, in the frenzy of "Elephant," the Angelika Film Center stuck to its bottom line; this time it was the same.

Therefore, Ripley sincerely gave advice, hoping that these viewers could see the films they liked. Just like treating their favorite movies, Ripley always believed that these moviegoers' innocent hearts for loving movies were equally important and equally worthy of respect.

But, she was rejected.

Ripley: ???

These viewers said that they didn't care whether they saw the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." The point was to watch the movie at the Angelika Film Center.

So, even if they had to queue, even if there were no screenings, it didn't matter. They could buy tickets for tomorrow or even the day after tomorrow, or even not need to buy tickets, just experience the atmosphere of queuing—

"In New York, there aren't many queuing occasions like this."

Ripley was at a loss, unable to understand, completely unable to understand. Did these young people hear her words? Were those words logical?

What do you mean they don't care whether they see "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" but they must watch "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" at the Angelika Film Center? What nonsense is this?

After trying to persuade them in vain, Ripley turned around and left with a head full of question marks, ultimately not continuing to insist:

Anyway, the Angelika Film Center didn't suffer any losses.

So, this scene appeared.

Led by Fox Television, a total of three television stations and more than a dozen newspapers and media outlets appeared one after another, broadcasting the current situation live.

Last time, the queuing frenzy for "Elephant"'s limited release completely caught everyone off guard. People didn't expect it at all, so they missed the opportunity.

But this time, the news media refused to miss it again.

Then, the Angelika Film Center went viral, and more and more people came to queue, even if they didn't know what was happening, purely joining in the fun.

"Dawn of the Dead" crew: ??? Can things be like this?

The actors, led by Anson, didn't even attend the screening in person, only connecting via audio. There was no premiere and no supporting publicity, but this wave spread mightily, easily grabbing all the attention.

As for "Dawn of the Dead," it was quietly squeezed aside. The grand premiere was only lively for a few hours, and before it even had time to promote itself, it was extinguished in the blink of an eye, leaving no sparks behind. It seemed that no one even realized that the movie had its premiere last night.

Person non grata.